A deeply divided Supreme Court nudged the nation toward broad recognition of same-sex marriage on Wednesday in rulings that advocates hailed as a "joyous occasion" - but still left many questions unanswered. Voting 5-4 in each of two decisions, justices threw out part of a law that denied hundreds of federal benefits to same-sex couples and cleared the way for gays and lesbians to once again marry in California. At the same time, the high court declined to make a sweeping statement on the broader issue of same-sex marriage rights nationwide, rejecting California's same-sex marriage ban but leaving intact laws banning such marriages in 35 other states. New Jersey has civil unions for same-sex couples, while New Mexico's marriage law is gender neutral and recognizes valid marriages performed in other states.

ALSO SEE:CNN: After historic court rulings, what's next for gay rights movement?

Authorities charged former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez with first-degree murder on Wednesday, hours after police arrested him and the NFL team that once gave him a $40 million contract dropped him from its roster. Hernandez is accused in last week's shooting death of Odin Lloyd, whose body was found in an industrial park area less than a mile from Hernandez's home. Hernandez "drove the victim to the remote spot, and then he orchestrated his execution," First Assistant District Attorney Bill McCauley said in court Wednesday. "He orchestrated the crime from the beginning, he took steps to conceal and destroy evidence, and he took steps to prevent the police from speaking to ... an important witness," the prosecutor said. A judge ordered that Hernandez be held without bail.

Washington (CNN) – It very nearly came down to the last inning. The home team was down by three with two outs and runners at first and second. Then Rep. Martha Roby popped a fly into the in-field. The ball made its way to the first basewoman who tagged Roby out.

Roby hasn’t been drafted into the minor leagues. The Alabama Republican still spends her days in a suit pitching bills. But Wednesday night, she was part of a team of senators and representatives playing in the fifth annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game. Their opponents? The DC press corps, aka Bad News Babes.